Church holds first service after tornado destroys sanctuary

GLASCOCK COUNTY, GA (WFXG) -

This was the first Sunday for the Magnolia Baptist Church congregation following the destruction of their place of worship from Tuesday night's tornado. Church members held their usual Sunday morning service after a member offered their family restaurant as the venue.

Carol Landrum said the congregation might as well be her family. She has been a member for almost 50 years and after a tornado nearly flattened the sanctuary where all of her children were married, she decided to bring her church family a little closer to home.

"If they want to come to a barbeque place and worship the Lord, it doesn't matter where you're at, as long as you worship him," said Landrum.

Landrum has owned Crossroads Barbecue for more than 20 years and doesn't travel far to work; her home is right next door. However on Sunday, she did not go to work but instead, she went to church.

"That was the only thing I knew to do so we could continue to have services," said Landrum.

"They are just typical examples of the community; they are just folks that continue to give," said Magnolia Baptist Church Pastor Michael Stewart.

A giving community that has worked together the days following the disaster to make Sunday's service that much easier.

"I think it was just a good expression of the community's outpouring and we had a fairly good crowd but it makes you really appreciate the place you had when you are trying to cram into such a small place," said Landrum.

A place that served something different on Sunday, all around them the lingering smell of barbecue pork, but this special Sunday the red checked table clothed tables were filled with hymnals and bibles and a room full of hope.

The Pastor Stewart said they will continue to have service at Crossroads Barbecue until they can decide if they are going to rebuild.